East Timor

‘In their afflictions they shall look for me’

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By Sr Sonia Sangel FdCC

Sister Sonia, who has written from East Timor in these pages before, was in Dili from 17 to 28 May. She was ushered back to safety in Baucau, where she’s based, by the Portuguese military.

On 23 May Dili, the capital of East Timor, was racked with violence, automatic gunfire, grenade explosions, the burning of houses and looting, with claims of rebel-related groups attacking and threatening civilians, and killings. The Timorese army, which had retreated to its barracks after incidents in April, returned to the capital and tried to get things under control, brutally killing many as they did so, however. The police headquarters and then one of the army headquarters were attacked and many police, soldiers and civilians died. It seemed at one point that the police and the military were fighting each other.

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‘TUG-OF-WAR’ – ‘A TUG-OF-RECONCILIATION-AND-PEACE’

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By Sister Sonia Sangel FdCC

Sister Sonia wrote in our September-October 2003 issue about the Maestra di Campagna, or ‘Rural Teachers,’ whom she trains in East Timor. Here she tells us about an unusual way of working for reconciliation.

I never used to like playing ‘tug-of-war’ before, but I do now! I knew that the consequence of losing the game was to fall on top of the others causing bumps, bruises and scratches on everyone’s hands and legs. The losers cry and the winners laugh seeing the losers in pain. Terrible!

Recently, I used this game as an activity to conduct a session on reconciliation and peace. I also joined the game and to my surprise it was a ‘win-win’ situation for every one of us. The winners pulled the opponents into their territory and embraced them. No one felt defeated. It was rather as if they were coming home.

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‘Maestra di Campagna’

 

By Sister Sonia Sangel FdCC

‘If everyone lit just one little candle, what a bright world this would be!’

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The Golgotha of East Timor

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By: Francisco Fernandez

The Portuguese occupied Timor around the time the Spaniards came to the Philippines. Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and suddenly the East Timorese had to make a choice between Christianity and Islam. Many people missionaries have stayed with the people in this time of trial. It is particularly. Many people missionaries have stayed with the people in this time of trial. It is particularly difficult for a missionary, who as a foreigner must remain outside the local processes.

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